War in Ukraine: what to remember from Emmanuel Macron’s television interview

Emmanuel Macron responded this Thursday evening to questions from Gilles Bouleau and Anne-Sophie Lapix in the television news of TF1 and France 2. He discussed the support granted by France to Ukraine, security in Europe and in France as well as on the nuclear threat. An interview which comes at a time when the National Assembly, then the Senate, have largely adopted the security agreement concluded between Paris and kyiv. The head of state was also questioned about his much-discussed comments regarding sending troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Macron speaks of “very deep disagreement” with those who voted against support for Ukraine

“I think that today, choosing to abstain or vote against is not choosing peace, it is choosing defeat,” said Emmanuel Macron. LFI notably voted against the security agreement between Paris and kyiv, while the National Rally abstained. On being accused of exploiting the conflict to achieve his electoral objectives, Emmanuel Macron judged these attacks to be “not serious”.

Macron talks about “production chains” in Ukraine

The Head of State announced this Thursday that France was looking into “the deployments that we will make in Ukraine” to produce munitions on the ground. Asked about the modest production of French shells, Emmanuel Macron recognizes that “we do not have a defense industry adapted to a war of high territorial intensity”.

Macron responds to Putin’s nuclear threats

“It is not appropriate to make threats when we have nuclear weapons,” says Emmanuel Macron, who recalls that this type of weaponry is a “security tool” and not a “war tool”. The head of state also indicates that he has not spoken to Vladimir Putin “for several months”. “I spoke to him whenever necessary.” In addition, the President assures that France must feel “particularly protected”.

“The Kremlin regime is our adversary”

During his interview, the President of the Republic declared that the “Kremlin regime is the adversary” of France but not its enemy. “We are not waging war against Russia and the Russian people. We are ready to respond to a possible escalation by Russia”, he indicated. The President also clarified that France was ready to “respond to a possible escalation by Russia”. “Who can think that Putin would stop there? (…) the security of Europe and the French is at stake there,” added Emmanuel Macron.

“There will no longer be security in Europe”

“The security of Europe and the French is at stake there (in Ukraine),” assures Emmanuel Macron for whom a Russian victory would have significant consequences for Europe and the French. “If Russia were to win, the lives of the French would change. If Russia wins, there will no longer be security in Europe. If Russia wins this war, Europe’s credibility would be reduced to nothing.”

Macron discusses Ukrainian limits

According to Emmanuel Macron, “the situation on the front is extremely fragile” in Ukraine where the Kiev army faces limitations in terms of men, because Russia is a larger country. “The counter- Ukrainian offensive did not go as planned. The situation is difficult for Ukrainians. They have limits in terms of men because Russia is a bigger country,” said Emmanuel Macron.

“To have peace, you must not be weak”

“For several years, we have been living in a world where what we thought was unthinkable is happening,” declares Emmanuel Macron. “France is a force for peace, but to have peace in Ukraine, you must not be weak,” he added.

“Russia must not win this war”

Emmanuel Macron reaffirms this Thursday that it is unthinkable for him that Moscow will prevail on the ground in Ukraine. And to evoke, when speaking of Vladimir Putin, “a person who crossed all limits”.

Towards French troops in Ukraine?

“We are not sure of doing it. We are not in this situation currently, but we are not excluding this option for the moment,” indicates Emmanuel Macron, whose comments on the subject have caused controversy, including within Western chancelleries.

Emmanuel Macron speaks

“We have done everything to restore peace” in Ukraine, said the head of state in the preamble, assuring that there was “a reason” not to exclude all options.

Why is Emmanuel Macron speaking this Thursday?

Emmanuel Macron chose to make the Ukrainian question the major theme of his party’s campaign for the European elections in order to reassure his electorate of a possible escalation of the conflict. The objective will also be to discredit the National Rally list, the favorite in the polls. Our article to read here. The presidential camp also intends to focus its European campaign on aid to Ukraine from France.